Cowardly Stepmother Dressed As the Hero

a few days later.

Early in the morning, when Qi An woke up, he opened his eyes in a daze and found Qi Ran sitting beside him staring at him.

He was in a trance for a while, rubbed his eyes, and asked unhappily, "Why are you looking at me like this?"

Qi Ran reached out and squeezed his face. After being slapped away by him, he was not annoyed, but replied seriously, "I'm afraid you'll be gone again."

Qi An passed him and got out of bed.

He felt a little hot in his heart, but he didn't show it. He only said, "Silly! I won't disappear inexplicably!"

The two brothers put on their clothes, washed up under the service of the maid, and came to the dining room.

Cao Mi and Qi Rui arrived early and were talking in a low voice.

The twins saluted and took their seats.

Cao Mi nodded and asked Qi An, "How are you feeling today?"

Qi An subconsciously reached out and touched the big bag behind his head.

His injuries were not serious, mainly small bruises and small wounds from some bumps. After returning safely a few days ago, the doctor in Fuzhong checked and prescribed some medicines.

Second Young Master stayed in bed for a few days, and was already well.

So he replied, "Mother, I'm much better."

"En." Cao Mi stopped talking and concentrated on eating.

Seeing this, Qi An secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He's been a little nervous these days. After all, after getting out of danger, he began to realize how dangerous it was to sneak out of the house before.

But Cao Mi didn't seem to want to punish them for this matter at all. The three brothers passed by peacefully for several days.

Qi Rui and Qi An naturally felt that things were not that simple, and only the heartless third child would not embarrass them if they felt that their lovely and lovable mother.

Seeing Cao Mi today, he still only cares about his injury, not to mention other things, Qi An feels that he has escaped the disaster.

Qi Ran swallowed a mouthful of porridge next to him, and touched him with his leg, revealing a "that's true" smile.

But several people were obviously too happy too early.

After the meal, Cao Mi stopped the three who were going back.

She returned to the hall, ignoring Qi Ran who opened her hands to hug her, and said lightly, "Since An'er has almost recovered, let's talk about the matter of you sneaking out of the house today."

The three children froze behind.

It was the boss who reacted first, and bowed his hands to Cao Mi in a proper manner: "It should be. Whatever punishment my mother has, we will all suffer."

When the twins saw this, they immediately followed suit: "Mother, please punish!"

Cao Mi was both angry and funny.

To be honest, although she had been holding back her anger for several days, she couldn't bear to see the three of them being so sensible and well-behaved.

But punishment cannot be taken lightly!

She took a sip of tea, concealed the emotion on her face, and said, "Not to mention punishment.

"The events of the day were so tiring that Cannes City was banned, and the four personal soldiers under the lord's command were dispatched, so there must be a reason for the labor and teachers."

In addition to the two pro-military teams, Qi Liu and Gongsun Ling, who actually participated, there were actually a team led by Qi San and Qi Jiu, but they received news that the child had found them before they arrived in Cannes. Hit the road back.

Hearing this, Qi Rui nodded: "Mother is right."

He paused: "I don't know... Mother thinks, what should we do?"

Cao Mi put the tea cup back on the table, and said his original plan: "The fine is silver."

Seeing that the three children hadn't reacted yet, she explained in detail: "This time, the troops were dispatched because of the trouble, and the soldiers didn't close their eyes all day and night. The full name was searching, which was very exhausting.

"Although they are all the prince's people, after all, this time it's because of you.

"I will cut myself and the three of you in the hospital for the next three months, and send the saved silver taels to these four pro-armies in the name of condolences to reward the soldiers."

After saying this, she glanced at the three children: "Do you have any objections?"

Qi Rui and Qi An immediately cupped their hands and said, "No, it's all up to my mother's arrangement."

Cao Mi nodded and glanced at Qi Ran who was not moving.

Little Fat Dunhou reacted with hindsight: "Cut it, cut it down...Isn't it true that there will be no crystal cakes to eat in the future?"

"Steamed buns, steamed buns, dumplings, and all the fine noodles are gone for the time being." Cao Mi counted with his fingers: "Also, all the pastries, such as rice cakes, milk cakes, crystal cakes, etc. , all replaced by the simplest sweet bean cake, limited supply."

Under Qi Ran's suddenly wide eyes, she looked at the two children who didn't take this matter to heart.

"The pen, ink, paper, inkstone and other utensils in Qi Rui Yuan are no longer of the highest quality, and replaced with ordinary rice paper and rabbit hair.

"In Qi'an's room, there will be no more exotic toys for the next three months.

"In addition, the monthly payment of regular silver has also been stopped.

"…"

As she counted things over, even Qi Rui and Qi An, who had thought that this matter was irrelevant, could not help but open their mouths uncomfortably, showing tangled faces.

Seeing that the three children realized the intensity of the punishment, Cao Mi finally hooked his lips in satisfaction.

Speaking of which, with the financial resources of the Bei'an Palace, even if it really wants to reward the army, it is far from the level of reducing the various expenses of the palace.

But Cao Mi did this to ask a few children to remember the lesson.

"I know that you may be wronged, or you may not be convinced, and feel that my mother is deliberately treating you harshly. But my mother told you earlier that you must be prepared to bear the consequences of what you do.

"This time it's all because of the three of you leaving the residence without authorization, why are the people in the city and the pro-army dispatched?

"I arrange this, can you accept it?"

Qi Ran's eyes were filled with crystal tears, and she nodded reluctantly.

Qi Rui took a step forward and said, "We all understand, but it's up to my mother's arrangement."

After he finished speaking, he remembered another thing and took the initiative to say: "Mother just said that because the city was banned for a day, many people were also affected... I don't know how to compensate for this?"

Cao Mi thought for a while and replied, "I originally planned to make porridge in the city, and then thoroughly investigate the whole city and bring all the stray beggars to Rongguang Villa.

"You take the initiative to mention this, what are your thoughts?"

Qi Rui nodded.

He took the initiative: "I have saved a lot of money in the usual routine. If my mother doesn't dislike it, I am willing to give some of the money to relieve the pressure on Rongguang Villa."

Cao Mi smiled gratified.

Before she could respond, the second eldest Qi An gritted her teeth, and suddenly said: "Big brother is right, mother, cut my regular silver for another half a year... I will give all the silver taels saved."

He pursed his lips: "Those guys from Ergou are very well supported. I said before that I would give them one hundred taels of silver, and they were so happy that they couldn't find Bei.

"...With this money, the beggars and thieves in the city can live a good life, right?"

Hearing that Qi Anneng had such a realization, Cao Mi was stunned.

The eldest, Qi Rui, was self-sufficient since he was young. After learning from Lin Yi, he gradually developed a gentleman's temperament in addition to his natural nobility. Cao Mi was not surprised that he could say such a thing.

However, Qi An was willing to ask for a reduction in the amount of money to help those homeless beggars, which really surprised Cao Mi.

You know, just last year, when she said that she planned to adopt all the refugee orphans, the second child was completely scornful, and she couldn't understand why she was asking for trouble.

It seems that after such an encounter, as lawless as Qi An, I also learned something.

Cao Mi pursed his lips, and nodded while holding back the excitement in his heart: "You are all good children... so..."

"Wow!" Before she could finish speaking, she was suddenly interrupted by a loud cry.

Qi Ran couldn't bear it any longer, and rushed over crying, hugging Cao Mi's thigh tightly.

When Cao Mizheng was at a loss, he said in the tone of a strong man's broken wrist: "Also, take mine too, woo woo, take it, take it away! Wo woo..."

"Okay, okay, where do you need to cry like this?" Cao Mi reluctantly hugged him into his arms.

She confirmed, "We An'er have to cut a little more silver just like my brother?"

The third son of the palace was full of tears, crying with true emotion, not pretending at all.

Cao Mi knew that he really felt sorry for his crystal cake, sweet milk cake.

But even so, he knew that he had to follow the same pace as his two older brothers. He cried while nodding and said, "Um... woo woo, I want it."

Cao Mi took him into his arms distressedly: "Okay, mother knows."

Then, she looked at Qi Rui and Qi An, and said, "That's it."

The two older children looked at each other and nodded.

Soothing Qi Ran, who was crying, Cao Mi said seriously to the three: "Mother, I hope you will remember that you are the direct sons of the palace, you must consider the consequences of doing things, and understand what should be done and what should not be done. made.

"Furthermore, if a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall, what is there that must be accomplished by taking risks?

"If you want to leave the house, you can wait for me to come back, or go to the housekeeper and Qi Liu to make arrangements. As long as it is clear, no one dares to treat you masters slowly, why do you have to go out behind your back?

"Next time, before doing something, think again, not only to consider whether there is a better way, but also to consider whether you can bear the worst consequences."

After she finished speaking, the three children nodded, and even the little chubby who was still crying and burping, followed the example of the two older brothers, bowed and saluted, and was taught, "My child understands."

Seeing this, Cao Mi finally sighed in satisfaction.

Seeing that Qi An only lost some silver taels, the matter could be over, and clenched his fists secretly.

But before leaving, Cao Mi named his name again.

She took Qi An out alone and led him to a side courtyard.

Qi An held Cao Mi for unknown reasons, and looked up at Cao Mi while crossing the threshold: "Mother...this is..."

Cao Mi pointed to the front: "Look."

"Flame!" Qi Ran was surprised.

The courtyard here is exactly where the new stables of the flames are located.

After that day, Cao Mi did not let anyone send it back to Rongguang, but found him a new courtyard and served it deliciously. Every day, there are soldiers drooling at it, taking it for a run in the suburbs to vent their energy.

Mother and son came to Lie Yan, Cao Mi touched Lie Yan's neck.

"It was the flames that saved you that day, do you remember?" Cao Mi asked.

Qi An nodded.

He will always remember that tense moment, Ergou and the group of beggars followed him, shouting the name of the sweaty horse.

That was the only hope he could see at the time.

Lie Yan obviously also remembered Qi An, the bear child in distress, and when he saw him approaching, he touched him with his long horse's mouth.

Cao Mi stopped Rie Yan and explained, "He's doing fine, he didn't get hurt."

The flames then retracted the horse's mouth.

After being close to Rie Yan for a while, Cao Mi turned back to Qi An and said, "Ri Yan saved you, and you should repay it well.

"I think you have nothing to do on weekdays anyway, so you will take care of it during this time."

"Ah?" Qi An opened his mouth wide, "Take care of Rie Yan?"

The flames raised their fore hooves happily.

Cao Mi nodded.

She pointed to the veterinarian in the stable, and said to Qi An: "Brush the horse, feed it, chase away lice... What to do, the veterinarians will teach you when the time comes.

"For the next month, you'll be here every morning on duty, understand?"

Qi An reacted, this is the real punishment for himself.

He pursed his lips, a little aggrieved, but finally said: "Well, baby understands.

"The child will definitely do his best to take good care of the flames."

—

After another two days, the whole story of the incident was passed on to Fengping.

Qi You read the seven or eight pages of the family letter in his hand, without saying a word, and put the letter back again.

Lei Li, who stretched his neck beside him, was so anxious: "Hey, lord, what did you say in the letter? Is the second son okay?"

Qi You glanced at him: "Well, An'er is fine, there are only some minor injuries, and it is estimated that they are all healed now."

Lei Li breathed a sigh of relief, and sat back again: "Well, that's good, that's good, the second son Jiren has his own celestial appearance."

"Hmph." Qi You suddenly snorted coldly.

Lei Li shrank his neck and looked over, only to see that he had returned to his original expressionless appearance.

The cold-faced King of Bei'an put the family letter to the side, and suddenly said, "There are some traffickers in Kangcheng who like to catch some young children and send them outside the Great Wall. Do you know about this?"

In the room, Lei Li and Chen He looked at each other.

Before, because of the distance, they were in Fengping, and they probably only knew that Qi An had disappeared and was found again. They didn't understand the details at all.

Now that Qi You said this, the two realized that the disappearance of the second son of the palace was actually related to the population-trading outside the Great Wall.

Lei Li reacted and was so angry that he smashed the table in front of him with a "smack": "Grandma's, why is there such a thing?"

Qi You looked at him coldly: "According to Qi Liu's investigation, human traffickers in Cannes are by no means an exception. These people's forces should be all over Liaozhou, but we have never noticed it before."

"Being able to send people directly outside the fortress, I am afraid that this group of people has colluded with the Rong people." Chen He frowned and guessed: "It has something to do with those Rong merchants who have been repeatedly banned!"

"It definitely has something to do with it!" Lei Li shouted angrily, "I thought they were just selling ordinary things for these things. It turned out that they dared to collude with the dogs of the Rong tribe and sell their children like pigs and sheep outside the Great Wall. go with!"

The more Lei Li said, the more furious he became: "My lord, this time we must not tolerate it."

Qi You nodded solemnly.

He asked Lei Li and Chen He, "How do you think the matter should be resolved?"

Lei Li widened his eyes and shouted angrily: "Kill the chicken to show the monkey! Just grab that old dog from Danba and kill it!"

Lei Li has hated Danba for a long time, and when it comes to Rong Shang, he will immediately think of this mortal enemy.

Chen He heard the words, and reminded leisurely: "I'm afraid this matter has nothing to do with Danba."

"I know." Lei Li didn't flinch.

He suggested to Qi You: "My lord, although this matter has nothing to do with Danba, he is the biggest military merchant. We will catch him and kill him directly. Those who are doing things behind the scenes will not stop. Yet?"

Chen He Wenyan thought for a while, and nodded slightly agreeing with his idea: "Indeed... Danba is too powerful, as long as the Danba line is cut off, other military merchants in Liaozhou will also be unable to move an inch. On the contrary, as long as Danba remains If there is, then there will be an endless stream of Rong merchants entering Liaozhou, and there will be no end to prohibition."

For a while, the two lieutenants seemed to have directly unified their opinions.

Lei Li looked at Qi You and said eagerly, "Your Highness, how is it? Let's do it like this!"

Qi You glanced at the two of them and shook his head.

He said: "Unless we start a full-scale war with the Rong family, the Rong merchants will never disappear. Not to mention how much effort it takes to cut off all the Rong merchants, even our local merchants in Liaozhou will not agree."

Many rich people in Liaozhou made their fortunes by doing business with the Rong people outside the Great Wall.

People like Peng Hu, who are second to none, even if they discovered the drawbacks of trading with Rong and began to actively seek other development, they still could not directly give up the profits on the side outside the Great Wall.

"Businessman, businessman! Where do you need to care about the words of those businessmen?!" Lei Li gritted his teeth.

He showed no mercy, and directly pointed out the complicated relationship: "It's not the corrupt officials who have received generous gifts, and they have been defending them!"

Speaking, Lei Li was a little annoyed, he looked up at Qi You: "Could it be that you are here, my lord, can't you uproot them?"

The three generations of the Lei family guarded Yu Fengping, and Lei Li and Danba had dealt with each other too many times!

How many times has he found an opportunity to get rid of Danba directly, but every time it falls short.

Later, he slowly came to understand that it was not that he had lost the opportunity, but that there were too many people in Liaozhou with a higher status than him, and they secretly and secretly protected Danba.

When Chen He heard these words, he coughed fiercely and turned towards Lei Li.

Just over half a year ago, Dan Bake led a sweaty horse that was hard to find in the world to the palace of Bei'an!

Lei Li's words were like scolding Qi You.

"It may not be difficult to uproot Danba." Qi You opened the map on the case, "But without Danba, there will be others. As long as there are interests here, some people will be willing to take risks."

Lei Li wanted to speak again, but Chen He secretly stopped him.

He asked himself respectfully, "Does your lord have other ideas?"

Qi You nodded.

He raised his head and said to Lei Li and Chen He, "I want to unite with Danba to ban all commercial crossings between Liaozhou and the Great Wall, leaving only two places."

Lei Li was puzzled and was so shocked that his jaw couldn't close: "United Danba?"

Qi You nodded: "Yes, the two places left are Danba's business road in Baqi County, and the other side of Changling."

"Baqi County, I know..." Lei Li scratched his hair, "Is there a business road in Changling?"

He thought for a while: "Oh! You are talking about the Ale people, the way the Zhang family sent wool?"

"Yes!" Qi You nodded.

"If you can't control it, then find a way to govern it." Qi You expressed his opinion: "The person standing behind Danba is the top noble of the Rong family, but he has been doing business in the two places over the years, and he has never violated the ban. His actions are also ordinary goods. As long as he is willing to cooperate, we will not only eliminate other illegal business practices much easier, but also directly restrict and administer all things that come in and out.

"Behind Changling, we are.

"I plan to open a trading point in Changling, allowing any friendly Rong and Shengchao people to buy and sell goods in Changling. Of course, like Danba, a certain percentage of profits will be charged."

Lei Li was a little confused, he didn't know the meaning behind this decision.

But Chen He was different.

He thought for a while and said, "My lord... this dynasty... is not allowed to do business with outside the Great Wall."

Chen He said the most crucial point.

The business done by those people in Danba is illegal in Sheng Dynasty.

It's just that over the years with the Rongtong business, many people have either hidden it well or washed it clean, that the situation has developed to the point where it is now.

"I know." Qi You replied.

Chen He was relieved: "So, what does the prince mean?"

"The court owes so much military salaries, don't you allow this king to think of a way?" Qi You hooked his lips: "I have sent people back to Beijing to operate since the beginning of the spring. The capital was used as a means of exchange for the license of Liaozhou and the three places outside the Great Wall. During the period, all the gains were used as military capital for Fengping.”

He estimated: "Calculate the days, the relevant documents should have left Beijing, and they will be delivered in two months."

Lei Li and Chen He took a deep breath.

Lei Li opened his mouth and asked directly: "This...this...opening a trade point in Changling, can I earn half of the army's salary?"

Qi You glanced at him with a half-smile but not a smile.

He said: "This dynasty prohibited trade with Rong, do you know how much yak hides, good horses, and medicinal herbs outside the Great Wall can be sold for in the capital?

"And how attractive are our salt, tea, sugar, and iron to the Rong people?"

Lei Li didn't know anything about trade, so he scratched his hair when he heard the words: "This... um... I know that the good horse is really expensive, hehe!"

Chen He's mind turned fast, and after Qi You's little dialing, he immediately reacted.

He nodded, and while calculating the account in his heart, he nodded and said: "Yes...salt, tea, sugar...We can not only collect taxes from the merchants who trade here, but also form a caravan of our own, Traveling between the two places, the profits of this..."

Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.

Qi You was very satisfied with him and nodded: "Yes, it's not just about money. As long as the time is right..."

He looked down at the map, his fingers wandering around the northern area of ​​Fengping.

There are five cities there, which were snatched from the Rong tribe by the Tai-zu of the current dynasty.

Fifty years ago, they were recaptured by the Rong.

Qi You didn't want to go back, and carefully identified whether this area belonged to the Rong people or the people of the Central Plains. Originally, his station was in the Bei'an area, so he couldn't stretch his hand so long. But now, by chance, he came to Liaozhou, so, he was not ready to swallow this loss.

Lei Li was blinded by money, gold and silver, but he had a keen sense of war.

Looking at Qi You's eyes and movements, he immediately sensed the unspoken ambition of King Bei'an!

In an instant, General Lei, who had been guarding Fengping helplessly, widened his eyes and said excitedly, "Your Highness, do you want to..."

Halfway through his words, he stopped abruptly under Qi You's cold gaze.

But Qi You did not refute him.

He closed the map and instructed: "Find a way to contact Danba, this king will meet him in person. In addition, during this time, you should start investigating to see where there are secret trade routes in the border areas that we have not yet mastered.

"Once you find out, don't panic, let someone record it.

"This time, this king will uproot all the lawless people."

Lei Li and Chen He looked at each other and cupped their hands excitedly: "Subordinates obey!"

Qi You took a new piece of letter paper and unfolded it on the desk in front of him: "Well, if it's all right, let's go down."

Lei Li's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of the first two words he had written.

He was in a good mood at this time, and he was not afraid to make fun of him: "Is the lord planning to write a love letter to the princess again?"

Qi You looked up at him: "Again?"

He didn't refute the word "love letter", Lei Li didn't notice the danger at all, and nodded stupidly: "Hahaha, didn't it happen last time? It's the first time I've seen you find it hard to write, and waste so much letter paper. ."

He was referring to the last time Qi You wrote back to Cannes to discuss the sweater with Cao Mi.

Qi You raised his eyes leisurely: "So, General Lei might as well stay and write a letter to the family together to report safety?"

It shook violently.

Who doesn't know that he is so afraid of the tigress at home that he hides in Fengping every year even during the holiday season, and will not go back if he can.

Chen He didn't even look at him, he left in a hurry.

Lei Li sneered twice, said "no" a few times, and ran out with him.

Being interrupted by him like this, Qi You also felt a little uncomfortable when he lowered his head and wrote the letter.

He had been away from Cannes for more than two months. At this time, when he thought of the petite princess in the city, who said that he "shared responsibility" with him, there was some incomprehensible meaning in his heart.

After being stunned for a moment, the King of Bei'an, who didn't know what love was, laughed at himself, and started writing again.

A few days later, Princess Bei'an's eyes widened when she received the reply, and she almost jumped up from her chair with excitement.

"He wants to take Qi Rui and Qi An to Feng Ping for two months???"

The author has something to say: one more chapter at 9 p.m.

Thanks to the little angel who irrigated the nutrient solution: evalee, 1738334920 bottles; Shen, 6661 bottles of spicy crayfish;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!